Volksbank Weinheim Stiftung and ZEW Grant new Research Award for the First Time

At the New Year’s reception of Volksbank Weinheim eG, the research award "Zukunft der Arbeitswelt" (The Future Working World) was bestowed for the first time. It honours excellent scientific papers that address topics such as demographic change, labour conditions in companies and economic sectors, reconciliation of work and family life, or education. The award for the best doctoral dissertation includes an endowment of EUR 3,000; the best master’s thesis receives EUR 2,000. Following an in-depth examination of the theses submitted the selection committee announced the two prize winners: Dr. Pia Pinger, assistant professor at the University of Bonn, who obtained her doctoral degree at the University of Mannheim, and Annette Hillerich, who also wrote her master’s thesis at the University of Mannheim. The award is granted by Volksbank Weinheim Stiftung in cooperation with the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW).

In his speech at the award ceremony, Manfred Soßong, spokesman for the executive board of Volksbank Weinheim, emphasised the goal of the new research award: "We have created this new award to support young economists at universities and non-university research institutions in the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region and the surrounding area." In his laudatory speech for the two award winners, ZEW’s Director of Business and Administration, Thomas Kohl, stressed that the first awarding perfectly meets this target. He particularly emphasised the scientific excellence and relevance of the issues addressed in the rewarded papers: "Pia Pinger’s doctoral dissertation investigates which factors favour human capital formation, taking into account health-related and psychological aspects. Annette Hillerich’s master’s thesis examines the impact of the proportion of women in executive positions on the economic success of companies."

The award will be bestowed in 2014 again. Eligible doctoral and master’s theses can be submitted until October 31, 2014.